We chatted with Tammy Do, who is currently the Co-Chair of the AFP Advancement Northwest Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) committee, as well as part of the 2018 Scholarship Cohort. Tammy shared her thoughts with us on the value of the scholarship and how it allows her to grow in her professional career. If you're interested in an Advancement Northwest scholarship, applications are being accepted now through October 15.

Share with us how you became involved in fundraising.Funny story. I started out doing community engagement and supported the board in transitioning into a working board. I was very excited to attend my first development training on planned giving. After an hour of estates, assets, and wills, I realized that planned giving was code for end-of-life giving! While advanced for my starting point, planned giving introduced me to the greatness of a legacy beyond this lifetime—and the beauty that when the time is right, the donors in my community who are quietly giving a modest amount, year after year, are invited to leave a legacy-scale impact too.

Why did you decide to apply for the Advancement Northwest scholarship?This year was going to be a year of new beginnings and I did not want it to put a pause on my chapter involvement. With our tech boom, the intersection between tech and nonprofits regularly crossed my mind. This scholarship has been a significant opportunity for me to still volunteer, attend trainings and commit to our network while investing in new skills.

What has been the most impactful part of the scholarship for you?Mentorship. Feedback is a gift, and I can’t express how meaningful it is to have support in achieving a dream. With my mentor, I have felt validated in creating my own path. Her guidance has also given me immense confidence as a first-time committee leader. I needed that!

Part of being a scholar is the option to serve on a committee. You are part of the DEIA committee. How has that experience been for you?I joined the DEIA Committee last year and remained involved this year. As a fundraiser of color, progressing a culture of inclusion has been as equally important as developing skills. It has been a personal experience with many deep-learning moments, in gratitude of my fellow social justice warriors.

Why is having the scholarship opportunity available important?Also from the perspective of diversity and inclusion, there is a tendency to network within our inner circles. Scholarships have the power to welcome new individuals with unique and valuable skill sets, often by reducing a financial barrier. This leads to greater diversity in leadership level fundraisers, more mentors with lived experiences, deeper connections in the community and so much more.

Anything else you want to share?It was incredibly momentous to celebrate the first person of color as this year’s Professional Achievement Award winner. I would not have witnessed that moment without this scholarship. Thank you.

National Philanthropy Day

National Philanthropy Day luncheon brings together donors who support causes that our local and global communities hold dear, fundraisers who connect donors' passions to nonprofit missions and each of us who believe in the power of philanthropy to make the world a better place.

Join us to celebrate the 2018 National Philanthropy Day Award Winners. This year's recipients highlight generosity across multiple causes that impact people in Seattle and beyond.

New this year! If you purchase an entire table, you will be recognized as a Table Sponsor and receive priority table placement. Hurry, there are limited tables available for purchase! You can also purchase individual seats or a few for you and your friends. There will be designated "open seating" tables to allow your choice of seating.

Thursday, October 18 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Bellingham Golf & Country Club

We all succeed when everyone at a nonprofit works in harmony. But when schedules are tight, workloads overwhelming, communication siloed, and staff and board are in their separate corners, internal issues are sure to impede effectiveness.

Join us for the next Northwest Washington Igniting Philanthropy Luncheon in Bellingham to hear from a panel of local nonprofit peers from executive, finance, program, and development staff to learn tips for increasing communication and engaging all departments in an organization-wide culture of philanthropy.

This discussion will be moderated by Janet Ott, an experienced coach, and facilitator from Whatcom County. Joining her will be Dianne Bradshaw of United Way of Whatcom County, Jenn Mackey of Whatcom Land Trust, Emily O’Connor of Lydia Place, and Jennifer Rick of Whatcom County Library Foundation.

Registration Now Open for AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising

Wednesday, November 14 and Thursday, November 15City University, Seattle

The AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course is composed of seven modules that have been designed by experienced fundraising professionals to meet the real-world needs and challenges nonprofit organizations face every day. This 16-hour program includes case studies and projects for groups and individuals, making the learning experience both substantive and enjoyable. The AFP Fundamentals of Fundraising Course offers a complete overview of the development function, featuring the most current information and techniques. This intensive program will provide an overview of skills, techniques, and program components for individuals with 0 to 4 years of fundraising experience.

Space is limited, so make sure to register early!

Apply to Join the Advancement Northwest Board Today

Looking for a way to serve the nonprofit fundraising profession? Consider joining the AFP Advancement Northwest Board.

Our Board is a group of volunteer professionals who generously share their time and expertise to help fundraisers build their proficiency and advance their careers. We are committed to including a variety of voices and perspectives on the Board. Individuals from populations that are traditionally underrepresented in the profession, including people of color, people with disabilities, and fundraisers for small shops and rural organizations are encouraged to apply.

Wondering what it's like to serve on the Advancement Northwest Board? You can read about it in one of our recent newsletters! We invite you to nominate someone (yourself or a standout colleague) who has served on one of our committees for at least one year. The deadline for applications is Friday, September 28.

Apply for a Scholarship Today

As Tammy mentioned, scholarships to Advancement Northwest can make a big impact on an individual's life. Could it do the same for you?

Scholarship applications are now open for 2019. The deadline is October 15, so start your application today!

The Advancement Northwest scholarship program focuses on supporting diverse talent in the fundraising profession, particularly including people of color, people with disabilities, and fundraisers working for small organizations and organizations in rural areas.

Did You Know?

AFP seeks to embrace diverse individuals, groups, and organizations with a broad representation of experiences, perspectives, thoughts and cultures within the fundraising profession. One way we create opportunities for people is to offer scholarships to the AFP International Fundraising Conference.

The application process is open and the deadline to submit is October 31, 2018. AFP is pleased to offer $1,500 scholarships ($799 conference registration fee + some travel expenses) for each of the currently identified AFP diverse communities. Selected candidates will be notified by email by December 1, 2018.

The 2019 Conference will be held in San Antonio, TX from March 31 to April 2. To learn if you are eligible for the scholarship, visit the AFP website.

Community-Centered Fundraising Summit Postponed

The Summit that has scheduled for 9/27 has been postponed until Spring 2019. There were so many great ideas shared at the pre-Summit in August for fundraisers of color that the planning committee wants to be able to incorporate the lessons gained. If you are interested in being informed about the Summit, please fill out this form.

Find Your Next Teammate on the Career Center

Are you working on your budget for 2019? If you work for any of the nonprofit organizations on a calendar year, you likely are. What positions are you considering in the new year?

Now is a great time to update your profile on the AFP Advancement Northwest Career Center. There are over 800 registered job seekers in the system and one of those people could be your next teammate. Recruiting through the Advancement Northwest Career Center allows you to not only post jobs but also to search the resumes posted on the site. Your job can also be featured on the Advancement Northwest website and in the weekly Flash emails, which have an open rate of over 32%.